Expansion bracelet



Aug 2, 1932 E. PREsTlNARl 1,869,615

EXPANSION BRACELET Filed 001;'. 27, 1930 Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES los EUGEN PRESTINAR, OF IRVING-TON, NEW' ERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 GEMEX COMPANY, A

' CORPORATION OF NEVI JERSEY EXPANSION BRACELET Application filed ctober'27,1230. Serial N'o. 491,382.

rIhis invention relates to an expansion bracelet, and has for its object toprovide a bracelet which is flexible in a longitudinal direction, and is also flexible sidewise or at right angles to its length.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a bracelet having large openings between its marginal edges and along Y the length thereof which is elastically extendible in the direction of its length.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a unit construction having spacedelastic portions, one of which portions may be moved or elastically'extended Without a corresponding extending move* ment of the other portion, whereby a lateral curve may be effected. j

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a series of units having a plurality of independently'extendible portions which may be detachably connected to a similar unit to form a series of units in a chain.` i j Vfl/Vith these and other objects and advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with lthe accompanying drawing, and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

' Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a series Vof units of my improved construction connected together and in collapsed or contracted position;

Fig. 2 isa view similar to Figure 1 showing the units in extended or expanded position; Y

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing relative different expansion of the different marginal edgesof the bracelet;

Fig. A is a perspective view of the vinner member of one of the units;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the outer members which comprise the unit;

Fig. 6 is 'a sectional view with the bottom portion of one of the units removed;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7+? of Figure 6;

Fig. 8 isa section on line 8 8 of Figure 1;

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Figure 1;

Afrom the next unit.

Fig.` 10 is a side elevation ofthe chain; andV vFig. 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 but showing one of the units as being detached It has been found desirable to provide bracelets having large openings therein'to prevent heating of the wrist when worn, and

Vwith Athis end in View, bracelet links of a generally rectangular open frame shape have been joined together with their openings permitting view of the wrist therethrough, and the circulation of air about the wrist and I have provided such a construction which is elastically extendible, wherein each unit of the same may be elastically extended so that the same may be passed over the hand of the wearer from the wrist in removing the watch .from position, and in order that the bracelet may be more easily removed from thewrist, Irhave formed the construction in such a manner that it will be flexible sidewise as well as'longitudinally, which is of great advantage when being passed over the hand of the wearer; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to. the drawing, I have shown a plurality of units detachably connected together. The units are of identical construction and are each composed of a generally H-shaped blank 12 which may be considered as having inner or frame-shaped members 13 connected by an integral lateral extending bar 14. The frame-shaped members are each slotted longitudinally as at 15 with a portion ofthe removed stock raised at one end 16 to form an abutment. The slot 15 is enlarged at its opposite end 17 to receive the hook of the slide or outer link of the next adjacent unit.V About each portion 13 of each unit there is mounted an outer link 18 of generally lband-shaped construction fw upwardly,'as illustrated in Figures 5 and 9 v m0 to form a hollow portion 23 to slidably receive the abutment 16 of the member 13, and a spring 25 acts between the abutment 16 and the folded portion 24E, between the top wall 19 and the tongue 21 to yieldingly move the outer link 1S to cause the major portion of the slide member 13 to house therein.

Each of the units thus consists or' the frame or slide members 13 housed within a pair of outer links 18 which is slidable relative thereto, and with opposite slide members connected by an integral bar le between the frames 13. These units may be detachably connected together by the hooks 2O or" the outer links passing through the openings 17 in the frames, as illustrated in Figures 10 and l1 to detachably connect them together and permit yielding expansion oi the bracelet longitudinally, or as each of the outer links 18 is independent with reference to its opposite outer'link of the unit, one edge of the bracelet construction may be eX- panded to a greater extent than the tl er edge, as illustrated in Figure 3, rendering a very flexible construction sidewise.

Another way of considering t iis structure is that of two separate elastically extendible chains having inner and outer slidable units with one of the members, that shown in this case being the inner member el each unit connected together, thereby attaching the chains in spaced relation, the attaching bars of which of course may be of any width or spaced apart themselves; il' desired to permit of greater open work in the chain as a wholeA lVhile l have described certain construction forms which embody the principles of my invention, it is obvious that other desired changes in arrangement may be made within the spirit and the scope et the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bracelet comprising a series of links each having a pair oli Jframe members with laterally extending means ier connecting said frame members together, and a second series of pairs ot links independent each other joining said pairs of members and each movable independently with reif nce to the frame members or". said links and means acting within said independent links for urging the links to contracted position.

2. A bracelet comprising av series oi. links each having a pair et frame members with laterally extending means for connecting said frame members together, a second series el' opposite pairs of links oining said pairs of members and slidable with reference thereto, and means acting between said trame members and pairs oit links 'for A eldingly urging said series of links int Ycontracted position.

3. A bracelet compi series or" links eac-h having a pair of spaced frame members with an integral laterally extending I bar therebetween, and pairs of spaced generally band-shaped links connecting said frame members and slidable relative thereto, and yielding means acting between said frame and band shaped links for moving said links into contracted position, but permitting yielding longitudinal expansion thereof.

l. A bracelet comprising a pair of series of inner links connected together with a laterally extending bar, housing links for each of said inner links slidable relative thereto, and connecting said inner links together, and a spring in said housing link acting between said links tending to move said inner link to housed position.

5. A bracelet comprising a pair of series of inner links connected together with a laterally extending bar and each having an abutment adjacent one end, housing links for each of said inner links slidable relative j thereto, and connecting said inner links together, and spring` in said housing link actin g between saidv abutments and said housing links tending to move said inner links to housed position and means for detachably connecting said housing` links to said inner links.

6. A bracelet comprising a pair of series of inner links connected together at their middle portions with a laterallj7 extending bar leaving the end portions of the links laterally unconnected and each of said inner links having a guide abutment adjacent one end. housing links for each of said inner links slidable relative thereto, and connecting said inner links together, and a spring in said housing link acting between said abutment and said housing links tending to move said inner link to housed position, and said abute ment en gaging with the inner surface of said housing link to guide said inner link in its sliding movement.

7. A bracelet comprising two spaced longitudinal series oiz units, each unit having a rigid inner link and a rigid outer link in slidable relation, each outer link of one unit being hingedly connected to the longitudinally adjacent inner link of the next unit on one side and each inner link of said irst mentioned unit being hingedly connected to the longitudinally adjacent outer link of the nent unit on the opposite side, and said'series of units being inter-connected through said inner links.

8. A bracelet comprising a series of'links, each link having a pair of spaced frame inembers with an integral laterally extending bar therebetween, there being a longitudinal slot in each oit said members, a secondfseries of links in said slots interconnecting` the first series or' links, and means for yieldingly maintaining both series of links in normally contracted position.v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EUGEN PRESTLNARI.

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